Deuteronomy 11:18 Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign on your hand… Attention to the Word of God is strongly urged upon the Israelites in my text. At that time, however, only a small part of that Word — the five books of Moses — had been given by God to marl. How much more strongly, then, is our attention called to the Holy Scriptures, now that every part of the Bible, containing the will of God, is made known to us! I. We have the reason given why we are to attend to the words of the Bible, namely, because they are the words of God; THEREFORE SHALL YE LAY UP THESE MY WORDS. If an earthly king were to write a book for his subjects, how eagerly would it be read! In proportion to his authority would be the attention paid to what he wrote, especially if he were a king from whom his subjects had received great blessings, and who had no other object in view than their real good. What attention, then, ought to be paid to the Bible! It is the word of the King of kings. It also contains treasures worth more than thousands of worlds, even the Gospel of salvation to perishing sinners. Yet, alas! nothing, in general, is more neglected than the Bible. Or, if it is read, it is only in a formal manner, as a matter of duty, undertaken in order to work out a supposed righteousness. The Bible must be searched into as .for hidden treasures, by all that are really anxious for the salvation of their souls; and the glorious truths it contains must be laid up in the storehouse of the heart. II. We are commanded not only to lay up the Word of God in our own hearts, BUT ALSO TO TEACH IT TO THE RISING GENERATION. "And ye shall teach them your children." We have here another melancholy proof of the blindness of the natural man. We see children taught, indeed, but not taught the Word of God. We see boys taught to seek after the good things of this life. We see girls taught to adorn their perishing bodies. But we look around, almost in vain, for those who teach their children the words of the Lord. All, however, to whom the Word of God is precious, should teach it to the rising generation. III. The next command given is to speak of the words of God, WHEN THOU SITTEST IN THINE HOUSE, AND WHEN THOU WALKEST BY THE WAY, WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN, AND WHEN THOU RISEST UP. Alas! there is, in general, no subject so completely banished from conversation as religion. To hear men in their common discourse, we might suppose that God had commanded His creatures never to talk of His words. And, surely, if the command were given to the Israelites, it is urged with far greater force upon us, in proportion as the reason is stronger. The Israelites could only talk of the wonders of creation, of the history of their forefathers, and of the law of Moses — that law which, from its very holiness, is a law of sin and death to fallen man. But, beside all this, we can talk of the wonders of redemption, and of the gracious dealings of the Lord with His people in all ages. IV. But still further, the words of God should always be had in remembrance. The text commands the Israelites to WRITE HIS WORDS UPON THE DOORPOSTS OF THEIR HOUSES. There might be some reason for this, when printing was unknown, and therefore copies of the whole Word of God scarce — but that reason exists not now. Through the mercy of God the whole of His Word may now be in the hands of everyone who wishes it. We therefore must enter into the spirit of the text. We should have the precepts and promises of the Bible fastened to the gates of our hearts, to direct our actions, words, and thoughts. V. In the close of our text we are reminded of the encouragement given to obey the command — THAT YOUR DAYS MAY BE MULTIPLIED, AND THE DAYS OF YOUR CHILDREN, IN THE LAND WHICH THE LORD SWARE UNTO YOUR FATHERS TO GIVE THEM, AS THE DAYS OF HEAVEN UPON EARTH. Those who govern their lives by the Word of God are the only really happy people in this world. Faith in Christ delivers believers from the hard service and bondage of this world, and leads them into the glorious liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (H. Gipps, LL. B.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. |
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